He’d already had preliminary talks with the Dubai consortium, whose asking price was around six hundred million dollars, though he believed he could secure it for about five hundred million. Since Ye Chen saw through his little scheme, he’d just buy JD Island and gift it to him.
Before Ye Chen could respond, he upped the ante, “Mr. Ye, how about I give you both JD Island and White Horse Island? If you think White Horse Island isn’t suitable for personal use, you could let Wanlong Hall’s soldiers vacation there. They’re seasoned mercenaries, they probably wouldn’t mind a few deaths on the island, right?”
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Well, Mr. Elnor, I must say, your attitude now is far more sincere than that sly businessman facade earlier.”
Bernard Elnor gave an awkward but polite smile, “My apologies, Mr. Ye, I didn’t think it through earlier and made a fool of myself. While today’s events will greatly damage White Horse Island’s reputation, the impact on the Maldives as a whole should be minimal. This was an isolated incident, orchestrated by Blackwater, so JD Island’s business won’t be heavily affected. If you want to profit from it, you can lease it out for substantial rental income yearly. Or, if you like the island, you can keep it as a vacation spot for you and your family.”
He added, “White Horse Island’s overall hardware is still top-notch. This incident might make it a bit inauspicious, but I believe Wanlong Hall’s battle-hardened soldiers won’t care. Rest assured, I’ll take full responsibility for the island’s ongoing maintenance.”
At this point, Bernard Elnor dared not entertain any wishful thinking.
The money had to be spent to make an impact.
To curry favour with Ye Chen, this was just a small gesture. He’d need to keep showing goodwill to maintain a decent relationship and secure future access to the Rejuvenation Pill.
Ye Chen, ever straightforward, said, “Since you’re so sincere, I can’t let your kindness go to waste. Let’s do it as you said. But there’s no need to transfer ownership of the islands to me, just keep them under your name and hold them on my behalf.”
“No problem!” Bernard Elnor patted his chest, “You can count on me. Keeping them under my name has another benefit, my group can channel funds to both islands anytime to ensure their daily operations and maintenance!”
Ye Chen nodded, “Just let me know once it’s done.”
Bernard Elnor eagerly agreed, “No problem, leave it to me! Oh, Mr. Ye, what about JD Island once it’s acquired? Should it be leased out or kept operational?”
Ye Chen waved his hand, “Shut it down. Lay off all the staff with double compensation and severance pay, which you’ll cover. After everyone’s gone, I’ll send batches of Wanlong Hall soldiers over, some posing as staff, others as tourists, creating an internal closed loop.”
Bernard Elnor couldn’t help but praise, “Brilliant, Mr. Ye! This closed-loop approach not only keeps JD Island looking operational but also lets Wanlong Hall’s soldiers rotate in for rest. When you and your family visit, they’ll ensure top-notch security. It’s a win-win!”
